Ore-concentrator.



H. E. WOOD.

ORB GONGENTRATOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 23, 1013.

Patented Sept. 2, 1913.

H. E. WOOD.

ORE GONGENTRATOR.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 23. 1913.

1,071 ,850, Patented Sept. 2, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET Z HENRY ELLSWORTH WOOD, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

OBE-CONCENTMTOR.

Specification 0! Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 2, 1913.

Application filed May 23, 1913. Serial No. 769,368.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY E. Woon, residing at Denver, in the county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented cer tain new and useful Improvements in Ore- Concentrators, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

A large class of ore concentrators now in general use is characterized by the presence of an inclined table containing longitudinal corrugations or riflles, on which the wet pulp containing the metallic particles and gangue is flowed from a feed box. A vibratory or vanning motion is imparted to the table transversely to the normal direction of flow, with the result that the solid particles are caused to travel obliquely across the table, the heavier or metal particles following the longest path so that they may be discharged from the table on the end, or in general, recovered at a different point from that at which the gangue is discharged. By the use of such ap aratus a distinctive process of separation o the concentrates and gangue is effected, depending .entirely u on the relative specific gravities of the di erent particles, andthe vibratory motion to which they are subjected while flowing on the table. In another class of apparatus for the same ultimate purpose of concentration, the ore, in a finely divided and, usually, dry state, is de osited upon the surface of a moving body 0 water, upon which the metal particles are sustained by surface film tension, so that they may be floated off, while the gangue sinks beneath the surface and is permitted to settle.

The invention, subject of my present application, is primarily designed to increase the capacity and efliciency of ore concentrators in general, by combining in cooperative relation in the same device means for ef- "fecting such concentration by both of the apparatus in the recovery of such concen-' trates as may sink beneath the surface. With this object in view, I have devised special appliances which mav be regarded,

and which will be hereinafter described as attachments to a concentrating table, and while this latter may be of any form or construction that is operative to produce the results hereinafter specified, I have illustrated the invention in connection with a Wilfley concentrating table, as that device is broadly typical of the class, but modified to more perfectly accomplish the objects in view.

In the drawings hereto annexed, Figure 1 is a top plan view of the apparatus complete. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a view in elevation on an enlarged scale of the device used as a spillway for the discharge of floating particles. Fig. 3 is a cross section of the same device, and Fig. 4 is a section on line XX, Fig. 1.

A represents the table of the well known Wilfiey concentrator, having rifiles B, and means for imparting to it a vibratory movement transversely to the line of normal flow of the water across the same. In the usual operation of this apparatus, the wet pulp is fed to the table from the feed box 0, but in the present case water only is delivered from said box, or any other equivalent meansfor the purpose, and allowed to flow onto and across the table in a thin stream or sheet. The usual wash water box D is, however, employed and used in the ordinary manner as occasion requires. Immediately over that portion of the table upon which the pulp ordinarily runs from the feed box, there is supported a feed plate E in a frame vibrated by a rod F connected with an eccentric G driven by a pulley H. Above this plate E is a suitable hopper J of any kind that may be adapted to deliver the material in a finely divided and preferably perfectly dry state upon the plate, so that by the latter it is gently and continuously deposited upon the surface of the stream of water issuing from the box O. Extending across the table and slightly above the same, is a pipe K which is to be connected with an air supply of low pressure, and which con tains near its outer or lower end a series of perforations through which air jets will issue in a general direction transverse to the line of flow and toward the feed and of the table, as shown in Fig. 1. Along the edge of the feed end of the table A is a pipe or other suitable conduit P containing perforations and adapted to deliver clear water in jets of regulable pressure between or in 55 matter as they pass toward the discharge'end directed from the perforationsin the pipe K, over the surface ofthe water so as 'to the line of the riflies, and at the lower edge of the table near the corner thereof is an outlet. gate L, the opening of which is adjustable both in height and length. Any means for securing this condition may be employed, for example, the discharge openwide stream. Whenthe flow has been established the dry fine ore is deposited by the feed'plate, or any other suitable means, upon the surface of this swift, but thin sheet of water. A certain proportion of the metal,

4 as well as the earthy particles, will at once sink into the stream and all'such become at once subject to the conditions of concentration which ordinarily obtain in suchdevices, and pass obliquely over and along the riffles; v A large proportion of the slimes, however,

floats upon the surface of the water and these particles are carried by the latter more or less directly across the table and overthe riffles thereon toward the spillway or gate L, not being subject to the throw of the table. It will be apparent therefore, since all 'of the'heavier particles of both mineral and gangue' are at once arranged in relation to their size and specific. gravities in 'clearly defined straight lines, that there will be-a submerged body of ore travelin obliquely across-the table, and another bo y of floatingiparticles passing directly across in the direction of the gate, with the result that there 'is, theoretically, a triangular area of clear water at the lower corner of the feed end of the table, on which" the floating particles flow. For the ver 'mobile surface film Of this body of water t e slot in the gate L furnishes an outlet and throu 11' this the ticles into asuitable launder. 1 As the assumed clear water area at the corner will gradually become turbid, it is increased-by the jetsof clear water issuing from pipe P.v

. The feed supply from the'vibrating plate is liable to deposit some of the floating par-v t 1cles where they will not quite cross the lines of concentrates, gangue and suspended of the table, the progressionbeing in par-' allel lines which 'are oblique to the sides of the table. To offset this effect, air under low pressure from one to two pounds, is

force the film loaded with concentrates to ward the outlet near the corner. The film responds readily and passes at once to the clear'w'ater'area from which it escapes with-- out carrying with it the gangue in sus pension;

It is of material advantage to the process I described that the riflies for a short'rdistance from and in. front of the source of the stream of water be entirely .removed, and

it is also advantageous to reduce the height or abruptness of the riffles 1n the directline of flow of the floating I particles, in

order to disturb as little as possiblejthef surfaceof the ,water. This feature is illu's trated in Fig. 4.

From the nature I ratus above described, it will be evidentthat the specific character of the concentrator d purpose of the 5pm-;

table is not materia h and that m ma- 1; tion and arrangement ofthesevei'alattach ments may be greatly jyaried without de M ture from the: invention, For example,t hel air pipe -K\ may be of any construc tion and" disposedin any way.- that will produce the: desired (result of. forcing the. surface film pai -'5 Y towardtthe gate oroutlet and overtheclear water area.. So valso with reference tof the character and thermeansffor controlling t .e:

Water. jets for increasing, the @clear water area, and other features set forth.

It W111 be understood that the adaptability:

of the device to. the concentration of ores" will vary accordingto the specific character of the latter, for SOmeOfthQ Q, Whi Qi Pfl Q Q of concentration ,by thefloating process re can be practically secured on a table is not only inmotion, but quite sharply in-L quire more. stable surface conditions than clined. Thereareahowever, many minerals, 7 the floating tendency of w hich' issojstrong as to resist. the conditions which exist on' tables of the type herein, described, andjfor the treatment of all 'of, these the appara-I high efficiency.

What I claim isa- 1. The combination vwith air-inclined .vi brating ore concentrating table of thejkind tus is of greatwalue and, possesses a'yery described and provided with' longitudinal.

riflies, of meansfori maintaining a .sifeamiof water transversely, across thersarne at. the

feed end, means for; feeding the material to; be treated in a vfinely 'diyided state Iupon the surface of the. stream, a. spillway adjacent "the feed end of thetableato 'permitthe 'dis charge from the. table of the surface of said stream with :the particles floating there;

on, and means forseparately dischargingthe submerged concentrates and ganguer from the table,-as set forth. i

. 2. The combination with brating ore concentrating table ,ofthe described,. of r 'means for maintaininga stream of .water across the table, means for feeding the material to be treated in afinely divided state upon the surface of the stream, a gate adjacent the feed end of the table and 3. The combination with an inclined vibrating ore concentrating table of the kind described, of means for maintaining a stream of water across the table, means for feeding the material to be treated, in a finely divided state upon the surface of the stream, a gate adjacent the feed end of the table for the discharge of the surface film with the particles floating thereon, and a source of air under pressure for directing the surface film toward the gate, as set forth.

4. The combination with an inclined vibrating ore concentrating table of the kind described, of a water supply or feed box for maintaining a stream of water across the table, an ore feeding device adapted to deposit the ore in a finely divided state upon the surface of the stream near its source, and an outlet gate at the edge of the table opposite the feeding device, the table being constructed with an area devoid of ritlies adja cent the water supply box, and with the ritiles in the direct path of the stream moditied to reduce disturbance of the surface conditions of the water flowing over them.

5. The combination with an inclined vi brating ore concentrating table of the kind described, of a water supply box at the higher edge adjacent the feed end of the table and adapted to deliver a thin stream of water upon the same, an ore feeding device adapted to deposit ore in a finely divided state upon the surface of the stream near its source, an outlet gate at the edge of the table opposite the feed device, and a water pipe along the feed end of the table having perforations adjacent the outlet gate and adapted to direct jets of water over the table transverscly to the normal How of the stream to the gate. h

(5. The combination with an inclined vibrating ore concentrating table, of: the kind described, of a water supply at the higher edge adjacent the free end of said table, and adapted to deliver a thin stream of water upon the same, an orc feeding device adapted to deposit ore in a finely divided state upon the surface of the stream near its source, an outlet gate. at the edge of the table opposite the feeding device, and an air pipe extending over the table and n'ovided with perforations for air jets adapted to direct the surface film of the stream of water toward the outlet.

7. Th combination with an inclined vibrating ore concentrating table of the kind described, of means located at the higher edge adjacent the feed end of the table for delivering a stream of water upon the same, an ore feeding device adapted to deposit ore in a finely divided state upon the surface of the stream near its source, an outlet gate at the opposite side of the table adjacent the feed end of the same, a water supply pipe along the feed end of the table provided with perforations near the gate and an air supply pipe with openings therein for directing the surface film of the water stream toward the outlet.

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature in the presence, of two subscribing witnesses. H

HENRY ELLSWORTH WOOD.

Witnesses A. M. CAMPBELL, E. Seonns'rnoat.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the eommissiencr of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

